Ron Wyatt

Ronald Eldon Wyatt (June 2, 1933 – August 4, 1999) as a Seventh-day Adventist. The earthquake mentioned in Matthew's gospel had led to the stone to crack, so that Jesus's blood could reach the Ark of the Covenant in the cave below. He subsequently used a colonoscope to shine a light beneath the split rock; seeing flashes of gold and crown moulding he knew he had seen the Ark. The findings indicated that the site was originally a quarry and then later a building from the Roman period. Finds included glass, ceramics and a cylinder seal from the Iron Age and the Hellenistic–Byzantine periods.

Released in 2006 after his death, a documentary "Testimony of the Ark", directed by Rebecca Truraiaire was made about Wyatt and his work, and in particular his claims about the Ark of the Covenant. Wyatt used what he termed a molecular frequency generator, similar to a dowsing rod, and with it detected striations of metal that he said corresponded with the crossbeams of the boat. Wyatt reported he had found rusted iron brackets from the Ark using a metal detector, a rectangular black "wood beam", as well as so-called anchor stones. John Baumgardner, a creationist and geophysicist tried, and failed, to replicate the finding of metal striation patterns by the molecular frequency generator using a conventional metal detector. The round balls of sulfur are a common feature of ancient lakes, and consist of the organic remains of animals and portions of surrounding sediment. and geologists.

Jack Romano wrote in the Fortean Times that Wyatt "invariably managed to ensure that things fitted tidily with Biblical accounts, to the extent that one wonders whether this evidence was fabricated; or was the self-delusion of someone who badly wanted things to neatly slot together and fit his own religious convictions." Romano also said "Ron’s evidence is usually anecdotal" and full of "misspellings, vaguely relevant biblical quotes, whimsical interpretations of scientific facts, and muzzy photos of various digs."

Geologist Andrew Snelling of Answers in Genesis criticized Wyatt for using tools "advertised in treasure-hunting magazines, not scientific journals".